title: Effects of fixed versus random condition sequencing during multielement functional analyses.
abstract: It has been suggested that a fixed condition sequence might facilitate differential responding during multielement functional analyses (FAs) by capitalizing on or limiting sequence effects (Iwata, Pace, et al., 1994); however, the effects of condition sequence have not been examined empirically. We conducted fixed- and random-sequence FAs for 7 individuals with developmental disabilities to determine the relative effects that sequence may have on assessment outcomes. Experimental conditions during the fixed sequence were conducted in the following order: ignore, attention, play, and demand; condition order during the random sequence was determined randomly. Results showed that sequence had no influence on the FA outcomes for 3 subjects, whereas differential responding emerged either faster (1 subject) or only (3 subjects) under the fixed sequence for the remaining subjects. These results suggest that the fixed sequence, a simple modification, should be used when conducting multielement FAs to accommodate the influence of establishing operations across assessment conditions.
authors.affiliation: STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Griffin W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Rooker
authors.forename: Jennifer N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bloom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: establishing operations; functional analysis; multielement design; problem behavior; sequence effects